Meat-stacker.



E. M. STILES. MEAT STAGKER.

APPLIUATION FILED rmmg, 1912.

Patented Nov. 12, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET i To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that. l, Eow Auahi. 'i'slrniizs g in the meat cntt to provide ns t citizen of the United States, residing at carrying; the slices of meat awe Mount Pleasant, in the county of and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful l'm 'lr cweiuenls in tackers, of which the following is a s; lien tion.

This invention relates to improvements in meat stacker-s for piling slices of meat as they are delivered by the meat slicer, and is more particuhirly adapted, tl'iough not nee essarily limited in its use, in combination with any of the well known types of meatslicers in which the slices are out from a block or piece of meat, and this application is a substitute application for my original application Serial Number 632,680, filed in the United 1911.

The present invention relates more par ticularly to a meat stacker of such construction that the slices of meatare superposed or piled one on top of the other broad side down, so that they will all lie in a substantially horizontal plane instead of piling them on edge. The ordinary meat slicer cuts the slices from the side of a piece or block of meat o that if they are moved straight outtrom the slicer they will he standing on edge. It is found that certain classes of meat cannot easily be stacked in this manner. the individual slices falling 'over instead of adhering together suilioiently to stand on edge as a unit. is therefore, very desirable to he alile to con struct a meat stacker which will super-pose or pile up the meat in accordaijure who. the principles of the present invention, thereby saving the butcher a considerahle amount of extra work and time, which he would otherwise occupy in arranging the slices into a pile after the slices had been cut, outside of sanitary reasons.

The main objects of the invention are to provide a meat stacker which will take the individual slices as they are out and silver pose. or pile thenn broad side downward. in

"a vertical pile; particularly to provide a nxent stacker ot the aforementioned type which can he easily attached to any of the well known forms of meat cutters; to provide a meal. stacker of such construction that when thus associated with a meat cutter its nuivenienls and actions will he entirely auloumlie, its several parts deriving motion States Patent Otfice, June 2nd,

from the llltil'l'illlilll ol elements contained may a, to LE on which to stack the meat, and which support is movable upwardly and downwardly, so that the height of the meat pile con tinually increases the support will hollowered. a sullicient distance to keep the R pper surface of the pile at substantially the same elevation; to provide. nevertheless a dorm of table the elevation, of wnich" can be quickly adjusted before commencing the meat slacking operation; and in other ways and manners to provide a meat stacker to meet all of the foregoing as Well as'other requirements.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and in the )l'GSQlll elvemplification of the invention, Figure 1 shows a side elevation of an improved machine of this char acter constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention, and showing the same as applied to a well known type of meat cutter. 2 is a top plan view of the parts sh-trwn in Fig. 1 with the carrier illustrated in its iniialposition. Fi is an end elevation of lh' vertical movable support and a portion or the carrier to illustrate the manner in fwhich the elevatirm of r vided with :1 silk-wise movable carriage on which the block of meat is secured and which carriage may lie :u'lvanced hack and iorlh or relatively with respect to a suitable knife or 'lllitl. so as to hringllfthc face of the block of meal consecutively into con- Incl with the on tor and thus sever the slices of meat iron: the l)l0Cl I. Suitable mechalllt-21ll pr vided for advancing the ca 'riage and its block oi merit the desired amount toward the knife during each stroke so as to always sever the slices of meat from the oloek, which slice will he 'of the proper v the slice; oi meat from the i thickness. Suitable mechanism is provided for advancing the carriage back and forth,

for advancing the carriage toward the from the carrier orreceiver to the support or platform after the slice has been completely severed. In order to compensate for the continually increasing heightof the pile of meat formed by the slices superposed upon the support, the support is mounted in such a way that it is vertically movable and means are provided for lowering the support preferably automatically. after each slice of meat has been piled on to it, a distance equal to the thickness of the slice last secured. Inthis way the elevation of the top of the meat pile is always maintained at substantially the same point.

leferring now to the drawings, the platform of the meat holder is designated by the reference numeral 7. It provided with the usual uprights 8, preferably pivoted to the platform at the points 9. and provided with a cross bar it), which latter niay'be pulled down against the top of the block of meat to clasp the same firmly against the carriage. Means are provided for moving the carriage backwardly and forwardly behind the cutting disk or knife 11, which latter prcferabiy rotates during the cutting stroke so as to better sever a slice of meat from the piece. tn the par-- ticular construction illustrated a hand wheel 12 serves as the source of power for imparting a relative lnUVCI'I'lZIltfO the carriage and disk. Ilowevcr, such constructions are well known in the'arhand need not be further described in this t-iptjtllitliltltiil. Each time the carriageis returned to its normal position. as show-n in Figs. 1 and it is ad- 'anced for'w y a prei'lctei'iiiined distance. so that. the piece of meat will protrude out: into the line of the cutting disk. andthus insure the severing of a given thickness of meat in the next stroke. construction illustrated. this advancing); mechanism embodies a :-(lt\\' t l. which ongages a. grooved iii t t. and wh ch screw rotated "y any s amount a initial po All of t are well known. and they are only illus :ted and described in this application for he purpose of showing the relation which In the particular a dc mechanism a slight i the tan'riage is restored to its this ii'nproved meat stacker bears to a. well known form of meat cutter.

'lhc meat stacker comprises a vertically movable support or plat toriu l3, placed adl jiu'ent to the meat tl|llt! and. a carrier or receiver which in the presciu cxcinplilication of the invention is shown as a belt carrier for carrying the individual. slices of meataway from the cutting disk. 'lhccarriei is preferably mounted on ii pair of rollers 17, mounted on shal'ts l8 tscc particularly Fig. l).and held in position on said shafts byineans of collars lit. 'lhcse shalt and rollers are substantially parallel to each other and are preferably tilted back at. an angle from the vertical. as is well, shown in Fig. l. The roller which is adjacent to the carriage is provided with a pinion 20. which latter meshes with a beveled gear 21 carried on a vertical shaft. 22. The gear 23 on said vertical shaft meshes with a rack24. which is mounted in any suitable manner on the mrriage. so that as the carriage moves back and forth the beveled gear. gear and pinion will be rotated to move the belt back and forth at a speed equal to the speed of the travel of the carriage.

Inasmuch as the ordinary type of cutting, disk is beveled as illustrated in Fig. 2, there will be a space between the cutting disk and the roller or the edge of the receiver or carrier which is adjacent the disk. In order to cover this space and thus insure a per fect transfer of the-meat slice to the receiveror carrier, there. is provided a guard 25, preferably in the form of a linger of triangular configuration. which extends from a point close to the belt to a point close to the disk. This guard, is supported in any suitable manner, but preferably is a partof the bar which gaps the space between the lower edge of the receiver and the platform.

The mechanism thus far describcd is sutlicicnt for the purpose of receiving each individual slice .of meat; as it cut and for ca!" rying it away from the cutting disk. The slices may be transferredfrom this receiver or carrier and su 'ierposed upon the support 15, with broad side down upon the support in any suitable manner. A simple and eliicicnt means for accomplishing this result will now be described.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. t and 7. it. will be noted that. in the present form of the invention the belt 16 is provided with a number of longitudinal grooves 27. shaft 2% extends substantially parallel to the lower edge of the belt. and is provided with a sleeve 29 at its outer end. To the other end is secured a bar 30, which in turn carries any number of fingers 31, which are adapted to lie. flat in the corresponding groovcs 27 when the Shaft 28 is oscillated into proper position.

' iireferably in the form of a spiral spring surrounds the shaftthereto and to a st;

and is connected carriage starts its return movement the finlgers will be restored to their normal position by the elastic member 32, and will thus allow the beltto present a smooth surface for the reception of the next slice of meat.

It is obvious that unless means are prov ided for lowering the support 15. a suitable distance after each slice of meat has been laid on it, eventually the pile of meatwill become so high that the movement of the tingers-31 will be obstructed, and the meat will not be properly piled. To overcome this ditlieulty, there is provided a support of such construction that it may be lowered in a vertical direction. Any suitable mechanism may be provided for this purpose, but a simple and efficient means for accomplishing the result will now be described.

Referring particularly to Figs. 2 and 3, the support is carried by a number of rods 35, whicn pass through suitable holes in the base iltt. Nuts 37 on these rods limit the upward movement of the support, which upward movement is occasioned by means of springs 38, surrounding the rods. These rods are of such a length and the nuts 37.

are so located thereon that the s'upport- 15 when it is in a position atthe extreme upper movement thereof. will be spaced below the bar tar-supporting surface of the meat table or holder 7, so that the first slice will be depo ited upon the platform before the plat form begins itsintern'iittent lowering movement. It is obvious that it: would be possible to so proportion the springs thatthe support- }5 wouldautomatically or naturally'fall a distance equal to the thickness of the meat slices each time the slice is deposited or laid cu the platform. I-l owevcr, in order to insure a positive downward movement of the support a proper distance each time a slice of meat is deposited. there is provided means whereby the downward movement of the support is occasioned by the advance of the rarriage itself. and the extent of each downward movement is lso controlled by this movement of the carriage so that each step of downward movementof the support will 1 transversely thereofi *at broad side down on to the support 15. As soon as the ionary member. so that 5 it. will exert a continual force tending to l(:-

be equal to the illlCliilCSS of the slice. To this end there isprorided in the present form of the invention a vertical rack bar ll on tizc support. and a gear at) on a shaft ll meshing with the rack. .hiothcr gear 46 (see particularly Fig. l) meshes with a rack l -l to which is attached an arm 44, provided at its upper end with a Contacting roller -15. A member 4-6 (see particularly Figs. 2, t' and T) is provided which is adjust ably connected by means of suitable fastening devices +l7, passing through a slot 4b in the member and into a portion 1-5) of the table 7, and this member -lt3 is provided with a cam face it), adaptcd to contact withtlic roll r t?) at the cud of each carriage stroln and thus to force the roller and the arm ll forwardly a slight amount. corresponding: to the forward feed of the carriage during' that stroke. Guides 51--52 (see particularlyFig. l) are provided whiclrinsme a perfect. back and forward travel of the rack 48. Hatchet teeth 5?, (see lflig. 3) are provided on the rack bar 215) nd a pawl .E-l and spring )5 are provided for holding the rack bar down in the position last determined by the cam face 50. Each time the carriage returns to its initial position it will throw the rack bar 43 forwardly a short distance, thus rotating the shaft 41 and drawing the rack bar 255) and support 15 dowmvardly against the tension of the springs or elastic member 12) the support 15 being held in such lowered position by means of the pawl and ratchet rt-53. The pawl is preferably mounted on a shaft. which carries a finger or handle 57 at its outer end or in any convenient position for the operator, so that. when the meat stacking operation is completed the pawl may be released froin the rack, thus allowmg the support 15 to rise into its uppermost position, as shown. in Fig. 3. By providing the member 4:6 with the cam face 50, and which member is adj ustably connected with the carriage 7, it will be manifest that after the carriage 7 has been moved forwardly a short. distance, and the rack bar l3 moved forwardly a corresponding distance, the ca rriage 7 may be moved baclnvardly in the ordinary and well known manner. by shifting the linger 14 out. of engagement with the screw 13. In this position another piece of meat may be placed upon the carriage. or the piece of meat which is on the carriage may be repositioned thereon and the cutting: operation continued without the necessity of returning the support 15 to its uppermost position. That is to say, if the cutting oper- .iilxlli has proceeded to such an extent that the support 15 will be lowered to a point intermediate its uppermost and lowm-lnost positions, it may be retained in this position and the carriage 7 moved backwardly or that should the carriage 7 be thus adjusted. the roller 45 would under ordinary conditions have assumed such a position that it would not be shifted by the cam 50 until the carriage 7. had reached the position from which it had been ad'usted or the position with the cam 50 ill-contact with the roller 45. 'l,l1ere:tore it'will be seen that after the carriage T has been shifted hackvardty the member th may be shifted with respect to the carriage by loosening the fastening devices t7 and sliding the member at foru'artily until the cam face 50 contacts with the roller -15. After being fastened in this position the cutting operation may be proceeded with and the sumaort 15 will again he auto natically and intermittently held by the Feeding movement oi? the carriage 7.

In order to permit the lug 34 which engages the finger 32 to lock the shaft 2810 be placed under the trout edge of the carriage, the support 58 (see particularly Fig. it) for the rack fZ'tmay be spaced from the front edge of the carriage a distance sutlicient to permit the lug 34 to be secured under the out edge of the carriage, and the extremity of the linger 33 to project under such edge.

Obviously .many changes may he made in the details of construction and the operation of the various parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Vhat I claim as new is '1. The combination of ameat support and a slicing knife, said support and knife being capable of relative movement, a receiver for the slices cut from the meat, and means for superposing the slices upon the receiver and on top of each other.

'2. ,The coml 'nation of a meat support and a slicing knite, said support and knife being capable of relative movement, a receiver for the slices cut; from the mcat, and means torplacing the slices upon the receiver broadside down and super-posing them upon the receiver and on top of each other.

3. The combination of a meat support and a slicing knitc, said support and knii'e being rapabh: oi r lative movement, a rcccivcr 'tor the slices cut t'rcm the meat. and means controlled by such ielative movement for superposing the slit-es upon the receiver and on top oiveach other.

4. The combination of a meat support and slicing knit'e capable of relative inovement, a'reccivcr tor the slices and means for de- ]ivering each slice to the receiver as it is cut and super iosing the slices upon the receiver and on top of each other.

5. The combination of a meat support and slicing knife capable of relative movement, a receiver for the. slices and means controlled by such relative movement for delivering each slice to the receiver as it is cut and superposing the slices upon the receiver and on top of each other,

6. The combination of a meat slicer, a support for the slices, a receiver for receiving the slices as they are cut and means for super-posing the slices upon the support from the said receiver and on top of each other.

7. The combination of a meat holder and a slicing knife capableiof relative movement, a support for the slices, a receiver-for receiving the slices directly they are cut, and means controlled by such relative movement' for superposing the slices upon the support from the receiver and on top of each other.

8. The combination of a meat slicer, a vertically movable support for the slices adjacent. the slicer, and means for superposing the slices upon the support and on top of' each other as they are cut.

0 I h 9. The combination ofa meat sheer, a

vertically movable support for the slices adjacent the slicer, means for superposihg the slices upon the support as they are cut, and means for automatically moving the support vertically.

10. The con'ihination of a meat slicer, a vertically movable support for the slices adjacent the slicer, means for sumvrposing the slices upon the support as they are cut, and means for intermittently moving the support vertically.

1.1. The combination of a meat slicer, a

vertically movable support for the slices ad-- jacent the slicer, means for superposing the slices upon the support as they are cut, means for automatically moving the support vertically, in one direction, and means for returning the support.

12. The combination of vertically movablesupport for the slices adjacent the slicer, means for supcrposing the slices upon the support as they are cut, and means for automatically moving the su portv vertically a distance equal to the thic ness of each slice and after each slice is cut.

ti-3. Thecombination of a meat slicer, a vertically movable support for the slices adjacent the slicer, means for superposing the slices upon the support as they are cut, meanstor intermittently moving the support vertically a distance equal to the thickness of each slice after each slice is cut, and means whereby the thickness of the slieesand the vertical movement of the support may be varied at Will.

14. The combination of a meat holder and slicing knife capable of relative movement, a support for the slices and movable down- \vardly, means for superposing the slices upon the support as-they are cut, means controlled by the said relative movement for intermittently lowering the support, and means for returning the support.

15. The con'lbination of a meat holder and slicing knife capable of relative movement-,-

a nieat slicer, a

i mmm v part in (me 0 Q Th mmi A. 1' ua pab port for t! law 1 a WE: r8 1 five mover-1m rm. br nd on i Hush mow: 'i mm'ume 2G. The

mm'onwnt a r-e- 00% 1b, tmy are us mail-(MPG by such 1;; neshccs from if; the any All r. meat holder and sin-v1- movemoufla ye- (0 AM shew as Huey are viii; ,I M'JHYYL UvQ 1' or dump- L. J I.

knife, of a. carrier forreceiving a slice of meatas the same is severed from a piece of meat by the knife, means for driving the carrier in a manner whereby it moves with the movements of the carriage, a support adjacent to the carrier, and means for transferring the slice of meat from the carrier to the support. and for piling the slices on top of each other.

3]; The combination with a meat slicer having a transverse and forwardly moveable carriage and a knife, of a belt carrier adjacent to the knife and adapted to receive a slice of meat as the same is severed from a piece of meat,a vertically movable sup port adjacent to the carrier, means for transferring a slice of meat from the carrier to the support. and a driving connection from the forwardly moving carriage to the support, whereby the support is lowered a distance equal to the forward advance of, the carria e each time a cutting stroke is per forme 32. The combination with a meat slicer having a transversely and forwardly movable carriage and a knife, of a carrier cent to the knife and adapted to receive a slice of meat as the same is severed from a piece of meat, a vertically movable support adjacent to the carrier, nieans for transferring a slice of meat from the carrier to the support, and a driving connection-from the forwardly movable carriage to the support, whereby the support is lowered each" time a cutting stroke is performed.

33. The combination with a meat slicer having a transversely and forwardly movable carriage and a utting knife, of a belt carrier for receiving a slice of meat from the knife as the slice is severed from a piece of meat, a Vertically movable support adjacent to the carrier, means for transferring a slice of meat from the belt fcarrier', face downon to the support, an actuating connection from the transversely movable carriage to the transferring means, and adapted to actuatev the same at the end of a cutting stroke, a driving connection from the transversely movable carriage to the belt carrier, whereby a slice of meat is carried away frornthe knife as rapidly as it is severed. from the piece of meat, and a driving connection from the carriage to the support, whereby the support is lowered at theper formance of each cutting stroke a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the slice of meat last cut.

34. The combination of a meat slicer having a forwardly movable carriage and a cutting knife, of a carrier for receiving a slice of meat from the lflllf. as the slice is severed from a piece of meat, a vertically movable support adjacent to the carrier,

means for transferring a slice of meat from the carrier face down. on to the support,

an actuating connection from the trans vcrscly movable carriage to the transferring means and adapted to actuate the same at the end of a cutting stroke, a driving connection from the transversely movable carriage to the carrier, whereby a slice of meat is carried away from the knife as it. is severed from the piece of meat, and a driving connection from the carriage to the support whereby the support is lowered at the performance of each cutting stroke.

35. The combination with a meatslicer having a forwardly movable carriage and a cutting knife, of a vertically n'iovable support adjacent to the iarriagc, means for receiving the slices, means for transferring a. slice of meat from the knife, face down. on to the support, means for lowering the support at the end of each cutting stroke a distancesubstantially equal to the thickness of the slice of meat last cut, and means for retaining the support in such lowered position.

36. The combination with a meat slicer having a forwardly n'iovablc carriage and a. cutting knife, of wirtically movable sup port adjacent totbe carriage, means for transferring a slice of meat from the knife broad side down on to the support. and means for lowering the support at the end of cach cutting stroke.

37. The combination with a meat slicer having a forwardly movable carriage and a cutting knife, of a vertically movable support adjacent to the carriage, means for transferring a slice of meat from the knife broad side down on to the support, and means for lowering the support at the end of each cutting stroke a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the slice of meat last out.

38. The combination of a meat slicer having a carriage and a cutting knife relatively movable, a receiver adjacent the knife for receiving the slices as they are cut, a movable arm, one or more fingers on the arm adapted to assume a position below or substantially flush with the receiver, a support, and means for throwing the arms at the end of each cutting stroke to actuate the fingers. to transfer a slice of meat from the receiver to the support and for piling slices on top of each other. g l

39. The combination of a meat slicer having a carriage and a cutting knife relatively movable, a receiver adjacent the knife for receiving the slices as they are cut, a movable arm, one or more fingers on the arm adapted to assume atposition below or sub stantially flush with the receiver, a support, and means controlled by such relative move ment of the carriage and slicer for throw ing the arm at theend of each cutting stroke to actuate the fingers to transfe a slice of t within the grow 7 1. the

rm-Hi an mrhmting' finger on the .Amfl, a

"" l'novuble, a mm'eyer adjacent the knit: for spring nnrnmily rutntln i the hzzfi to sent 73 reveiving and conveyingaway the slices the 0 1' who rm with? w grooves 0? from the knife as they are. cut, means \vuewthe halt, and ma-un. {hr .-\\'in;-h0 :zctm:

by such relative mm'mnent will impart Eng finger 1 1ft i0 raise m.

nmvcment h, H (3 mnvcyer, mm: or more finfing'm mat n 5;"01'; vnfipm'nting with he con eyer mad h'fln armpwl assume :1 posi'han in remove Hunwn 'fvnm Lhc uonveyaz', i snppm't. am

meat from the receiver to the support to pile the sdic s 0h top of nch oihmr.

4.0. The combination m. a meat slim-31' having' a carriage and a suiting knife relmlvflv when 1310 mm? mm! 9. panning] mzamove the a vvytically movable platform and grouved belt :Mjncent The same an arm ii'mted m3,- jncmi he belt a phmflity of fingers on flu, 35 urm,'a 1npt0d f0 in 1710 grm'ves (1% [1w Mali, and means fi'n' LC"! ff in: mm fin its pivot in mis the I ant 11;? in

i xhm g0 i Chi sin :kax (in combhmi 10H 0 :1' 36-1 zv ion-gain; :mfly maxim grooved belt adgz'ment (he ec ge of H10 fm'n'l, an arm pivoted a ihacmf Pm and of the belt, a v lmmlitf 4L5 a'rm'udnpfnd in 5021; inm "P belt, and means for actuatih pivmt to raise the fingers on ,f and transfer {3 slit- Oi mm: from ln'vad side (imx nxzn o the f-ng'mort 5Q In a meat si'nckm'. the (-.0m: i1'1mi m of plmfnrm. :1 pair of x'oiiers mmmfim? 1 1 211 miawagv of H10 platform and \XIIGE'ML M m zmgzlv m" the s ame :1 grooved 01 finger-r armada rollers outwardly extending. away from the same, a belt passed over the rollers and exten'ding in a direction substantially parallel to the adjacent edge of the platform, means for causing the belt to travel a distance substantially equal to the length of a slice oi meat, meanslfor transferring a slice of meat .froi'ii the belt broad side down on to the platform, and means for lowering the plat form a distance equal to the thickness of the sliceof meat. I

p 53. The combination of a meat slicer, a support for the slices adjacent the slicer and means for depositing the slices broadside down upon the support a they are cut and piling hem on topot each other.

54. The combination of a meat slicer, a receiver for receiving the slices as theyare cut, a support and means for dumping the slices from the receiver to the support and piling them on top of each other.

55. The combination of a meat slicer, a receiver for receiving the slices as they are cut, a support and means for dumping the slices from the receiver to the support, broad side down and piling them on top of each othe 56. ihe combination of a meat slicer, a receiver for receiving the slices as they are cut,

-.upport, and mains for swinging the receiver for dumping the slices from the receiver and piling them on top of each other on the support. I

.37. The combination of a relatively movable iiieat holder and cutter, a receiver for receiving the slices as they are cut, a sup-.

port, and means, controlled by such relative movement for dumping the slices from the receiver and piling them on top of each other broad side, down upon the support.

58.. The combination of a relatively mov- .able meat holder and cutter, a receiver for receiving the slices as they are cut, a support and piling them on top of each other broad side down upon the support.

59. The combination of a relatively movable meat holder and cutter, a receiver for receiving the slices as they are cut, a portion of the receiver being disposcd in close proximity to one face of the cutter, means extending between the cutter and holde' and spanning the space therebctween i'or guiding the slices over the space, and means for depositing the slices troni the receiver and broad side down and on top of each other upon the support.

' (50. The combination of a. relatively rcinovable meat holder :iiid cutter, a receiver for receiving the slices as they are cut, a portion of the receiver being disposed in close proximity to one face of the cutter, means extending between the cutter and receiver and spanning the space thercbetween for guiding the slicesover the space, and means controlled by such relative movei'ncnt for piling the slices on top of each othe and upon the support and as the slices are cut.

(31. 'The combination of a meat slicer, a carrier for receiving a. slice. of meat "from the slicer as it is severed by the knife from the piece of meat, a vertically movable support adjacent the carrier, and means for superposing the sli ies broad side down upon the support and from the carrier.

62. .The combination of a meat slicer, a carrier for receiving a slice of meat; from .the slicer as it is severed by the knife from the piece of meat, a vertically movable support adjacentthe crrrier, means for superposing the slices broad side down upon the support and from the carrier, and means for automatically moving the support vertically.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, on this 14 day of February A. D. 1912.

, EDWARD M. STI LES,

Witnesses MARY I. STILES,

THOMAS H. STILES. 

